Using complex flavor profiles to appeal to experiential eaters

Much has been made about experiential eating in 2025. Consumers and TikTok influencers alike are looking to turn every bite into a story. They want something complex yet flavorful, familiar but adventurous. Honestly, they kind of want it all. And with walnuts, they can have it all. 

Unlike other nuts that lean solely toward sweetness, earthiness or a neutral flavor profile, walnuts deliver a complex flavor experience. Their taste evolves with each bite, starting with a buttery richness, transitioning into delicate hints of umami, and finishing with a slightly tannic note. This dynamic range makes walnuts a perfect ingredient for product developers looking to create something truly distinctive.

For food brands looking to develop the next generation of crave-worthy products, complexity is key. Walnuts provide a natural, flavor-forward solution that aligns with today’s adventurous eater. Whether used in a snack mix, packaged salad or pasta sauce, walnuts’ complex taste profile adds an expected taste, especially in these three flavor trends:

Flavor trend 1: Umami bombs for the GLP-1 era

Umami-rich flavors are expected to dominate new product development in the coming years for two reasons. 

1. Millennials and Gen Z are actively looking for depth and richness in their foods. They’ve proven this with the rising popularity of miso, aged cheese and mushrooms. 
2. People taking GLP-1 drugs have reported a reduced craving for sweet foods and an increased preference for savory, umami-rich products. 

Walnuts offer a natural umami depth that complements both sweet and savory applications. Their complex, buttery and slightly tannic flavor profile adds an earthy richness to foods, much like aged Parmesan or toasted sesame. When roasted, walnuts develop even deeper umami notes, making them an excellent addition to savory snacks.

• Flavor innovation – Seasoned walnut clusters: Think buttered herb walnuts with rosemary and sea salt or a savory walnut granola with cheese and black pepper.

Flavor trend two: Swalty goes mainstream

Move over swicy, there’s a new trend in town. The swalty trend—where sweet and salty flavors collide—is gaining momentum in snack mixes, confections and even packaged salads! Walnuts are a natural fit for this flavor movement, as they bring both the sweet and the salty. 

Most people can easily identify the sweetness in walnuts, but did you know that research has found that walnuts also have a salty taste on the tongue^[1]? This layered flavor complexity makes walnuts an ideal flavor and texture to add in swalty confections, snack mixes and bakery foods. 

• Flavor innovation – Salty & sweet walnuts in packaged salads: Lightly salt maple-glazed walnuts and paired with a gouda cheese in a packaged salad. 

Flavor trend 3: Global flavors

Global flavors are expected to shape food innovation in 2025 and beyond, as consumers seek authentic ingredients that offer unique taste experiences. Walnuts fit naturally into this trend because they have a rich culinary history spanning from Persia to the Mediterranean. Walnuts’  buttery texture and umami depth also make them a versatile ingredient across a variety of traditional and modern global dishes.

• Flavor innovation – Muhammara: This walnut and roasted pepper dip is the perfect inspiration for savory spreads, sauces or even snack coatings.

For food manufacturers seeking to formulate products that excite today’s adventurous consumer, walnuts offer the perfect balance of familiarity and complexity. Contact us and we’ll send you three flavor innovations with walnuts to inspire your next new product development.